By Heidi Trautmann

Zehra Şonya is a hard worker in the true sense of the word, not because she is a sculptor and used to work stone with hammer and chisel, but because she goes to the bottom of things, she follows the devil to the gate of hell, as I would say.

This is the impression you get when you enter EMAA Art Centre in Nicosia this December. It is her third solo exhibition in ten years. Her work of these past ten years are compiled in the book written by Zeynep Yasa-Yaman, her experiences during the past are well described and the projects she has undertaken and participated in cooperation with EMAA members (European Mediterranean Art Association founded in 2002), plus her own art work. On the occasion of my interview with her in July 2006, which is contained in my book “Art and Creativity in North Cyprus”.  I learnt a lot about her philosophy of life and work and her expectations.

Since she had returned from Turkey in 2001 after graduation, she was deeply concerned about the things on political and social levels,  and as an artist and human being and as Cypriot she made her harsh comments without considering her own safety, putting a pointed finger into the wounds. Just as she does in her latest exhibition, joining the worldwide campaign of protesting against cruelty against women, in her case in Cyprus.

On a map she points out the sites of whore houses, the sites of cases of assault, rape of women and young boys, and on the floor - by year - boxes with court files, mentions in newspapers; the files become obviously more frequent with the years, but perhaps because people speak more openly about it.

That is her theme: bringing to the surface the value of women behind the curtain of society and displaying the society sitting on cushions and chairs full of nails and barbed wire. The woman, a torn, twisted and stretched  pantyhose hung up and nailed to the strict frames of traditions. The body of women pierced by nails, bodies without faces. (Those faces we see daily in the media or as a huge poster on billboards, faces with bruises and cuts).

The book is bi-lingual and can be obtained at EMAA’s.

Visiting times until December 30 are:

Monday – Thursday; 10: 00-12: 00/18: 00 – 20: 00,

Tuesday-Wednesday-Friday; 18: 00 – 20: 00 and Saturday; 10: 00-13: 00.

For more information: Özgün – (0 533 864 04 18 – ozgul.ezgin@gmail.com )